The borrowed blue PFD and a taped unfeathered paddle saw me into a demo kayak on the bank of the Deschutes River in Bend. Just before he gave me a push off, the young tousled haired young man asked me, "Are you confident?" "Yes," I said. He then explained just where I should paddle, avoiding the spillway to the right, and recommending I could paddle as far as the second bridge where he said the current would become too strong to paddle against. I set off upriver against a fairly stiff current keeping close to the bank. While studying the 106 Old Town Camden's handling, and keeping an eye out for tree limbs, I suddenly realized I was out on the river on my own in sight of shopping malls, backyards, and a busy river cross walk bridge coming up shortly. I made it to the second bridge, and found the current not so hard, and paddled into the broad bend that beckened for some distance. It was tempting to keep right on going, the day so fine, sunny with a cool breeze. "The (river is) lovely, dark, and deep; but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep..."-RF After trying out another kayak, and purchasing a river map. I set out for my next destination.
The Garmin nuvi265t was my husbands Christmas present and I used it to navigate from the river to Tumalo Falls. I was very pleased with how it worked, navigating me through neighborhoods and traffic circles. The only thing it couldn't tell me was that the gate was locked 2.5 miles from my destination. It accurately helped me find the next stop, which also took me through new territory through town.
A couple of thoughts about going 'solo': the young man's question, "Are you confident?" asks for a bundle of information. Experiences enough to answer 'yes' come to mind. When confindence is as easy as answering 'yes', it leaves the mind open for other important things, like a clearing wind blowing away cob webs and clutter. It was just what I needed
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